NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 40, 16 July 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

St Luke’s Entertainment. —The entertainment in connection with the parish of St Luke’s, which was postponed last week, will bo given this overling in the schoolroom. The programme lias been made very attractive, and should induce a good attendance.

Nisi Prius Sittings.—The sittings of the Supreme Court at If is I Prius will commence on Monday next, when the special jury cases will be taken, there being no common jury cases for trial this session.

Domain Bill. —The petition against this Bill has been already signed by over 500 people. Lincoln Fair. —There was a poor attendance at the Lincoln fair, and about twenty head of fat cattle were yarded. There were several sales effected after the fair at full market rates. Rangiora District School. —In our notice yesterday of the Rangiora district school buildings, it was stated, in error, that the school buildings would be completed in a few days. It should have been in a few weeks. Kaiapoi Ploughing Match. —The committee wish it to be known that ploughmen intending to compete at this match can make their entries with any member of the commute or the hon secretary. They will also meet at the Kaikainui Hotel on Tuesday evening next, to receive entries. Wesleyan Musical Festival. The festival to commemorate the opening of the new organ at the Durham street church, has been fixed to take place on the 30th inst. The musical forces, under Mr Spensley, will be very large, and they have been practising the various selections assiduously during the past few weeks, so that a successful rendering of the pieces on the programme may be anticipated. Mr and Mrs Hoskins. —By p ivate letters received recently from Man Francisco, we learn that these artistes have been playing at Salt Lake City, giving their drawingroom entertainment. At the dale of last advices they were ni route to New York, Lecture. —Captain Tuttle, a whaling captain of many years’ experience, will deliver a lecture, at the Canterbury Music Hall, on “Whales, their Habits, their Food, and their Young.” The lecture will be illustrated by paintings of the great polar whale and the right whale. The lecture has, we notice, been delivered in the North Island, where it was spoken of both as instructive and amusing. The lecture will commence at 8 o’clock.

Eangioea Ploughing Match.—A meeting of persons interested in the Eaugiora match was held at Sinclair’s Junction Hotel, on Tuesday evening. About a dozen persons were present. Mr H. Eojd, hon secretary of last year’s match, read a statement of the accounts for last year, showing a balance in hand of about £6. After a good deal of discussion on various matters, it was decided “ That the annual ploughing match should not be hold this year .” Several gentlemen expressed their opinion that it was better to discontinue the match for this season, and support the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and others thought that it was now too late to get up a ploughing match. -So that unless some other committee takes up the matter, Kaugiora will be without its match this year.

Lyttelton Parochial Association.— The usual monthly meeting of this association was held on Tuesday evening in the Church schoolroom ; Rev F. Pember presiding. After some introductory remarks from the chairman, Mr Newell Phillips read a paper on “ Sunday Schools as an auxiliary to the Church’s system.” An interesting and animated discussion followed, in which the chairman, Dr Donald, Messrs Plimmer, and W. Graham took part. On the motion of Dr Donald, a vote of thanks to Mr Phillips was accorded, and the chairman announced that the paper at the August meeting would probably bo on the “ Cathedral Question.” Kaiafoi Assessment. — A Court was held by G. L. Hellish, Esq, Resident Magistrate, on Wednesday, to hear appeals against this assessment, Captain Morgan assessed for his house and laud at £95, applied for a reduction, which w’as allowed to £B3. Mr Birch for Birch and Co, applied for a reduction of the assessment on their stores and wharf, on the river reserves, from £l2O to £BO, and on the stores and offices on the opposite side of Charles street from £2OO to £l2O. The town clerk and the Mayor opposed the application. Mr Birch pointed out that the railway had lessened the receipts for storage, and that rents had fallen at least 20 per cent. The Magistrate decided that no reduction could be allowed in this case. Ohoka. —A meeting of the promoters of a ploughing match for the Flaxton, Ohoka, Eyreton, and Swanuanoa districts was held on Monday evening, at Lewtou’s Junction Hotel. A managing committee of Messrs M. Dixon, M.P.C., I. Wilson, M.P.C., J. E. Brown, M.H.R., J. Guild, R. Dailey, P. C. Thrclkeld, R. Hopkins, S. Bradley, J. Leatherdale, T. Burgin, J. Lcwtou, j. Clark, P. Bailey, and W. Robinson as hon see, was elected, and a working committee of Messrs Burgin, Hopkins, Lcatherdale, and Robinson was appointed to carry out the arrangements of the forthcoming match. Several paddocks were offered, and that of Mr George Smith, near the Junction Hotel, was accepted. It was decided that it be called the Eyreton district ploughing match, and resolved that it should be held at the end of the month. After passing some other business the meeting then adjourned. Smith’s Combination Troupe.— These artistes are expected to arrive in Lyttelton this morning, and they will give their first performance in the Colonists’ Hall this evening. Mr Smith is an old friend here, having paid us two or three visits, once in connection with the Lentons, when the first troupe of Japanese visited the colonies. Since then Mr Smith has been to England, and formed a company which, alike for variety of entertainment and talent of the performers, has gained a very high reputation in Australia. The company comprises Airee., a gymnast, whose feats eclipse anything yet seen trere ; Val Yoso, a very clever ventriloquist ; the DeGastro family, the youthful members of which, as acrobats, arc said to bo very clever ; and Mdlle Montebello and Mr St Vincent, whose role is character songs of a high class, and sketches of the character made familiar to us by Rickards. Such a combination should draw good bouses, and we hope Mr Smith will have no cause to regret his visit to Christchurch. The troupe open at the Theatre Royal on Monday evening next. Theatre Royal. —Mr Burford’s benefit ot the Theatre Royal last evening was well attended. Wo cannot say much for the first piece, it being one of the ultra school of melodramas in which it was the fashion some long time ago for our grandfathers to delight. Wc had hoped that these kind of pieces were buried in that oblivion to which their merits, or rather demerits, entitled them ; but every now and then some lover of this description of drama digs them out, and the result is disgust on the part of the audience. The piece last evening was only saved from being utterly condemned by the clever acting of Mr Hydes. Miss Raymond was obliged by her part to be more affected and unnatural than is her wont. Mr Egerton was appropriately villainous, indeed, rather more so than his part warranted, and it only wanted a little colored fire at his exits to make the part perfect. The gentleman amateur who played tbe Lieutenant may be a Fechter for all we know, but he was so intensely confidential that the members of the orchestra are better able to judge than we are of his success in the part. Taken as a whole, with the exception we have named, the piece was a failure, and it is one which we hope for the sake of the best interests 5f the drama, we shall never see again on the Christchurch stage. In the second piece, “ The Widow’s Freak,” Miss Rosa Towers was capital, and her really excellent acting went far to remove the unpleasant feeling produced by the first piece. To-night the “ Waif of the Streets” will be produced, and on Friday Mr Frank Towers takes his benefit, which we hope will be crowded. Poultry Association. —A meeting of the committee was held at Warner’s Hotel last night. Present—Messrs E. Strange (chairman), G. A. Rcadc, J. Gould, G. A. Macquarie, T. Stapleton, T. Williams, W. Calvert, and W, G. Walker (hon secretary.) The minutes of the previous meeting were read and (fonfirmed. A discussion took place with reference to the hall most suitable for the annual exhibition, and it was ultimately adjourned for further consideration until the next meeting. The secretary announced that private prizes had been promised as follmvs :Mr John Hill, Lincoln, £3 3s ; Mr Wynn Williams, £2 2s ; Mr George Gould, two copies of Tegetmicr’s “ Poultry Books ; ” Messrs Petersen and Co-, silver medal, value £2 2s ; Mr Sandstcin, £2 2s ; Mr J. W. Oram, silver cup for canaries ; Mr Warner, silver cup for Belgian canaries ; Mr Urquhart, silver cup ; Mr Proctor, silver cup ; Mr J. Baylee, silver cup ; Messrs Nashelski and Co., a cruet stand ; and Mr J. W. Morton, a prize for the best capon. Leave of absence was granted to Mr James Wood for a mouth. Mr James Wilkin was elected a member of the committee. A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Read and Walker, was appointed to draw up conditions for imported birds, with instructions to report at next meeting. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.